Traffic-signal for motor-vehicles.



Patented Jan. 21, 1919.

4 SHEE'l'S--SHEET l.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-7, 19!].

" J @Miowmag w. H. KOEHLER. TRAFFIC SI GN AL FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION man AUGJ. 1911.

Patented Jam-21,1919.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2 uiiii w wg.

W, L KOEHLER.

TRAFFIC SIGNAL FOR MOTOR VEHlCLES.

APPLICATION FILED AUGJ. 1?!!1.

L giant ad. Jan 21, 19M).

'1 SHEETS--SHEEY 3.

I APPLICATION FILED AUG-7,1917. (1,291,928.

lmmmm ijatenizeii Jan. 2L 193%).

4 SHEETS SHILEK L WILLIAM H. KOEHLER, F JACKSON, MICHIGAN.

TRAFFIC-SIGNAL FOR O'lOR-VEI-IICLES.

Application filed August 7, 1917.

i .To all whom it may concern:

turn to the right Be it known that I. \YILLLUI H. Konmaan, a citizen of the Ynited State's, residing at Jackson. in the county of Jackson and State of Michigan. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Traffic-Signals for Motor-Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

This inventionrelates to an improved traffic signal for motor vehicles and has as its primary object to provide a'device of this character whereby a driver may inclicate to a driver following an intention to or left. to slow down or stop.

The invention has as a further object to provide a device of this character which may be manually operated from the driver's seat and may thus always be easily con-' trolled bythe driver.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a signaling device which at night will normally display a red tail light and which will also act to illuminate the license tag of the vehicle.

And the invention has as a still further object to provide a signaling device employing a -character cylinder having different characters of traffic indicia stenciled therethrough for displaying different signals and wherein when any one of the said characters is arranged in position for display. another of the said characters will be disposed in position to provide a window through which the light from within the character cylinder may shine against the license tag for illuminating the said tag.

Other and incidental objects will appear as the description proceeds and in the drawings wherein I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved t-raffic signal particularly illustrating the operating lever employed for controlling the said signal and the arrangement of the cable between the shaft of the said lever and the signal,

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan View ofthe signal,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view particularly illustrating the mounting of the character cylinder employed,

Fig. t is a transverse sectional View taken on tlie line ll of Fig. 3 and looking in the Specification of Le ters Patent.

Patented Jan. 21, 1919.

Serial No. 184,924.

direction of the arrows, this view particula rly illustrating the disposition of the background pane for the character cylinder as well as the arrangement of the rear window of the signal for illuminating the license tag,

Fig. is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows, this view illustrating the arrangement of the cable for actuating the character cylinder, Fig. 6 is a plan view showing the blank from which the body of the character cylinder is formed and illustrating the traiiic characters stenciled in said cylinder body,

Fig. T is a fragmentary perspective view' showing one of the end plates of the supporting frame for the background pane,

Fig. 8 is a plan view of one of the lamp sockets employed. and f Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view particularly illustrating the mounting of the pulleys over which the actuating cable for the character cylinder is trained.

In carrying out the invention I employ a cylindrical casing 10 provided at the forward side thereof. as particularly shown in Fig. l. with a longitudinally extending window opening closed by a glass pane 11. Securing the pane in position are strips 1'2 engaging the side margins of the pane. Connected to the casing adjacent its extremities are supporting brackets 13 secured in 'position by rivets or other suitable fastening devices and extending beneath the casing,

' as also particularly shown in Fig. l, to provide hangers therefor. The rear portions of these brackets are, as illustrated in detail in Fig. '2, provided with lateral flanges ll by which the signaling device may be'secured neoon the rear .of a motor vehicle at some s litablc point below the license tag and, for convenience. such a tag has been conventionally illustrated at 15 in Fig. 4 of the drawings. Formed in the upper rear side of the casing is a longitudinally extending window opening closed by a glass pane 16. This pane is preferably arranged tangentially to the axis of the casing and at one margin of the said pane the wall of the casing is bent up, as illustrated at 17, to support the pane in position. Connecting the pane with the casing are suitable strips 18.

Removably fitting over one end 'of the casing 10 is a closure .cap 19 and removably fitting over the opposite end of the said casing is a similar closure cap 20. These an arrangement whereby the closure caps for the casing will be firmly held in position to exclude practically all dust and'dirt therefrom.

Rotatably mounted within the casing is a character cylinder or drum 24 the body' of which is formed from a blank as shown in detail in Fig. 6 of the drawings. This blank is preferably constructed from a piece of suitable sheet metal secured together at its ends :to provide the drum body. Stenciled through the blank adjacent one end thereof is the representation of an arrow 25 pointing toward the left and protiding a left turn. signal. Stenciled through the blank in. spaced relation to the arrow 25 is a second arrow 26 pointing toward the right and providing a right turn signal. The blank is further provided with a stencil defining the word Slow and a stencil defining the word Stop. Formed through the blank between the arrows 25 and 26 is a window opening closed by a pane of red glass 27 It will now be seen that when the ends of .the blank are connected to form the drum body, as previously described, the several traflic signals of the blank will be arranged at circumferentially spaced points about the drunr body.

Snugly fitting over the ends of the drum body are caps 28 and 29 respectively. The cap 28 is formed centrally with an inwardly directed annular flange 30 rotatably surrounding the fiange 22 of the end cap 20 of the casing. The end cap 29 of the drum is formed centrally with an outwardly directed. annular flange 31 rotatably surrounding the' flange 21 of the end cap 19 of the casing.

The flanges 30 and 31 Will thus rotatably support the'character drum within the casing. H At its outer edge the flange 31 of the end: cap 29 is formed with an annular radial lip 32. e 1

Mounted upon the co'nnecting rods 23 is a frame supporting a background panejfor .t-he stencilsof the character'drum 24. This 7 frame includes end plates 33 provided with spaced legs 34 having the rods 23 fitted thereth'rough. The end plates 33 are mounted Within the character drum 24-adjacent the end' caps 19 and 20 ofthe casing and interposed between the said ,end caps and the legs of the said plates'are'spacing sleeves 35 surrounding the said rods. Connecting the:

end plates 33 are spaced parallel channel strips 36 and fitted at its'side edges Within these strips is a curved translucent back- 'round pane .37 which is preferably formed of White or opal glass; The upper edges'ofl the end plates 33 are curved to conform to the curvature of the pane 37 and struck from the said edges of the plates are a plurality of staggered lugs38 engaging over and beneath the ends of the pane. These lugs will thus cotiperate with the channel strips 36 for rigidly supporting the pane 37 in position adjacent the inner face of the body of the drum 24 and opposite the front pane 11 of the casing. The pane 37 will thus form a white background immediately in the rear of erably formed of suitable sheet metal and at their inner extremities 'are' provided with lateral-lugs or wings 40 riveted or otherwise secured to the end caps of the casing. At the outer extremities of the brackets, the metal thereof is bent to provide cylindrical sockets 41 in which are removably fitted electric lamps conventionally illustrated at 42'. Ar I ranged'in the rear ofthe lamps 42' are reflectors 43 havingarms 44 extendin there from and surrounding the lamp sockets f0.. supporting the reflectors in position. As shown in Fig. 4 of, the drawings, the lamps 42 are arranged adjacent the rear side of the casing opposite the front-pane 11 and in a plane almost directly below the upper pane 16 of the casing. Furthermore, it will be noted that the reflectors 43 are soar-ranged that the said reflectors will not cut off the light rays from thepane 16. Fitted through the end caps 19 and 20 of the casing are insu-' lating sleeves 45 \through which are fitted circult wlres 46. These circuit wires are. as

particularly shown in Fig. 3 of the draw-' source of electrical energy upon the vehicle equipped with my improved device.

Supported by the end cap 19 ofthe casing at the lower rear side thereof are spaced pulleys 4'1 These pulleys are rotatably mounted upon bolts or-trunnions 48 extending from a plate 49 resting within the casing lO'and confronting the end cap 29 of the character drum. Formed on 'the lower edge of the plate is a suitable lateral flange secured to the casing for supporting the plate in position. Attheir outer extremi- .rangggement wherebyv the pulleys will be ties'the. tr unions 48 are removably fitted indicating slow.

rigidly supported in position and may be detached when the end cap is removed. Led through a suitable opening in the casing 10 between the pulleys a is a cable 50 which is wrapped one-or more times about the flange 31 of the end cap 2 of the character drum. The purpose of the lip 22 upon the said flange will now become aparent since it will be seen that this lip will retain the overlapping strands of the cable in position upon the said flange. The cable 50 is trained over one or more pulleys 51 and is carried to the front of the vehicle to be -wrapped one or more times about a pulley upon the lower end of an actuating shaft 53. The shaft 53 may be rotatably mounted upon the vehicle in any approved manner and the upper end of the shaft is arranged to terminate at some point convenient to the driver's seat of the vehicle as. for instance. at the vehicle instrumentboard. Mounted at the upper extremity of the said shaft is a fixed dial plate at and connected to the adjacent terminal of the shaft to move over the said plate is an actuating lever 55. The plate- 54 at suitable circumferentially spaced points is provided with suitable notches or marks respectively identified by the letters St indicating stop. L indicating left. X in dicating neutral. R indicating right. and Sl At the notch indicated as stop. is arranged a pin 56 upon the dial for limiting the lever 55 in its movement in one direction and at the notch indicated as slow is arranged a second pin 57 for limiting the lever in its movement in the opposite direction.

The pulley 52 of the shaft 53 is. of course.

so connected with the character drmn 24 by the cable 50 that when the lever is moved into register with any one of the notches in the dial plate. thecharacter drum will be rotated to display a corresponding trafiic signal opposite the front pane 11 of the casing of the device. Consequently. by manipulating the lever the driver may readily indicate tothe driver following an intention to turn either to the right or left. to slow down or stop and owing to the provi- .sion of the white background pane 37. the

signal displayed may be easily observed. Xormally. the lever 55 will be arrahged at the notch indicated as neutral upon the dial plate 54 when the red glass pane 27 of the character drum will be disposed opposite the front pane 11 of the casing- Thus. in the day time. no signal will be displayed when the vehicle is pursuing a given course while at night. when the lamps 42 are energized. the red glass pane 27 will cause I118 normal display of a red tail llght, On the other hand. when the character drum 24 is'rotated.

to bring any one of the traflic signals oppo-v site the front pane 11 of the casing. the

lamps 42 will, of course. illuminate such signal so that it may be easily observed. In this connection attention is now directed to the fact that the t-raflic signals are so arranged about the character drum :24 that pane 16 of the casing. Such lattcnsignal will. when so disposed. thus provide a window through the character drmn through which the rays from the lamps may shine against the license tag 13. (onsciple itlyx this tag will. at night. always be illuminated without regard to the operation of the character drum to display any particular tratlic signal.

It will thereforebe seen that I provide a particularly simple and eflicient construction for the purpose set forth and a device which may be employed in connection with substantially any conventional type of. motor vehicle. l urthermorc. the device is compact and of such structural nature that it may be manufactured at minimum cost.

Having thus described the invention. what is claimed as new is:

1. A device of the character described including a casing. end caps for the casing. the said end caps being pressed in centrally to provide annular flanges. a character drum rotatably mounted.within the casing upon the said flanges and provided with a plurality of tratlic signals. and means for adjustably rotating thb said drmn for selectively moving the said signals into position for display.

2. A device of the character described including a casing. end caps therefor. means extending between and connecting the said caps. a character drum rotatably mounted within the casing and having a plurality of tratlic signals exposed through the drum. an element mounted upon said means within the drum and providing a l acl g1.'(nunl for the said signals. and means l i. flfljiastably rotating the said drum forgt-lcfilfiflb rnoving the said signals into position for display.

3. device of the character described including a casing. a character drum rotatably mounted within thc casing and having a plurality of trallic signals adapted to be exposed through the ca ing. a stationary translucent background anc for the said signals arranged. within the drum. and mcans for rotating the drum for selectively moving the said signals into position" for display in front of said pane.

4. A device of the character described including a casing. rods extending through the casing. a character drum rotatably mounted within the casing-and {w ing a plurality of t'rallic signals eyp i- 'd ii 1:: Lb drum. n fraune mounted open so... ind.

Iii)

within the drum, an element carried by the said frame and providing a background for the said signals, and means for adjustablv rotating the said drum for selectively moving the 5 id signals into position for display.

evice of the character described including a casing, end caps therefor, means extending between the said caps and securing the said caps in position, a character drum rotatably mounted within the casing and having a plurality of trafficsignals exposed through the drum, a frame mounted' upon said means, a background pane for the signals mounted upon the said frame within the drum, and means for adjustably rotating the said drum for selectively mov-- ing the said signals into position for display.

A device of the character described ineluding a casing, end caps therefor, means securing said caps in position, a character.

drum rotatably mounted within the casing and having a plurality of traflic signals eX posed through the drum, a frame mounted upon said means within the drum and including end plates connected tothe said means and channel strips connecting the said plates, a' background pane for the said signals received at its, side margins within said strips and supported by the frame within the drum, and means for adjustably rotating the said drum for selectively movin g the said signals intoposition for display.

7. A device of the character described including a casing, end caps for the casing provided with flanges, acharacter drum areluding a casing, end capsthercfor, a char acter drum arranged -within the casing, means at opposite ends of" the drum rotatably supporting the drum upon the said end caps, the drum being provided with a plurality of tratiic signals, and means engaging the said. first mentioned means at one end of the drum for adjustably rotating the said drum to selectively dispose the said signals into position for display.

9. A device of'the character described including acasing, end caps therefor, a character drum arranged within the casing and including end caps provided with flanges rotatably supporting the drum, the drum being provided with a plurality of traffic signals, and means engaging the flange of one of. said end caps of the drum for adjustably rotating the drum to selectively dispose the said signals in position for display.

10. A device of the cha'acter described including a casing, end caps therefor, a character drum rotatably mounted within the casing upon the said caps, spaced pulleys supported by one of said caps within the casing, the said drum being provided with a plurality of tratiic signals, and a flexible element engaged with one end of the drum andtrained between said pulleys for adjustably rotating the drum to selectively dispose the signals in position for display.

11. A device of the character described in cluding a casing, end caps therefor, means securing said caps in position, a character drum rotatably mounted within the casing and having traffic signals exposed through the drum, end plates supported by the said means within the drum, lugs carried by the said end plates, abackground pane for the signals engaged at its ends by the said lugs and supported by the plates within the drum, and means for adjustably rotating the drum for selectively moving the said signals 'into position'for display. v v

In testimony whereof I atiix my signature.

WILLIAM H. KOEHLER [1,. a] 

